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Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
No state tax is why the Florida Panthers are succeeding? Not exactly, Bill Zito says
As the Florida Panthers prepare for their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final and attempt to win a second consecutive championship, there has been a lot of talk in hockey circles recently how a select group of teams possibly have an upper hand in the NHL because they play in states without an income tax. This applies to six teams: the Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken. So naturally, the topic was addressed to Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito on Tuesday during the team's media day ahead of their Cup Final rematch against the Edmonton Oilers. Zito, who since being hired ahead of the 2020-21 season has taken the Panthers from a team that hadn't won a playoff series since reaching the Cup Final in 1996 to being one of the last two teams standing each of the past three years, scoffed at the notion that the lack of in-state tax is the primary reason for Florida's success, calling it 'marginal at best.' 'I think the most important thing for us in attracting players is I think the players have understood now how much we've been empowered by ownership to try to do the right things,' Zito said. 'And it can't be overstated what the Viola family has done for us to allow us to implement [what we need]. We need a new practice facility? 'OK. Here you go.' And it's beautiful. And to allow us the flexibility to try to do the things that we think are necessary to try to win and to try to have an excellent organization. I think the players feed on that. They know that if the chicken isn't right that we're going to get new chicken. And it sort of transcends all that we do. It sounds silly, but it's true and it's real. The sun doesn't kill us. It's a nice environment to live in. It's a good place for families. It's a good place for singles. It's got a little something for everybody and I'll point to [coach] Paul [Maurice] and the coaching staff and that room. Players know — I'm not going to go through each one — but so many of the players who have come to us have had career years, and it's a function of the coaches in the room. Players from the outside think that the tax thing is marginal at best, and I think the real reasons are that we're trying to figure out a way to do our best to try to win.' Checkers in the Final, too The Panthers aren't the only team in the organization playing for a championship. The Charlotte Checkers, Florida's American Hockey League affiliate, advanced to the Calder Cup Finals on Tuesday after completing a four-game sweep of the Laval Rocket in the Eastern Conference finals. Charlotte clinched the series with a 3-2 win, rallying back from a 2-0 deficit with a pair of goals in the second period before Jesse Puljujarvi scored the game-winner with 2:04 left in regulation. This is the first time since 2008 that teams from the same organization have reached the Stanley Cup and Calder Cup Finals in the same season when the Pittsburgh Penguins and their AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins did so. The last affiliates to win both championships in the same season were the New Jersey Devils and Albany River Rats in 1995. Charlotte will play either the Abbotsford Canucks (the Vancouver Canucks' AHL affiliate) or the Texas Stars (the Dallas Stars' affiliate) in the championship.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Charlotte Checkers up 3-0 in Eastern Conference finals
The Charlotte Checkers are just one win away from the Calder Cup Finals. Charlotte defeated the Laval Rockets at Bojangles Coliseum on Sunday, 5-1. That's the third straight game the Checkers have scored five goals. Advertisement They're now up 3-0 in the series, which is best out of seven. 'A lot of work ahead of us still, proud of the group, proud of the work, not easy coming back against a really good hockey team,' coach, Geordie Kinnear, said. 'I thought the mental toughness was important.' The Checkers will host game four on Tuesday. The Checkers' professional team, the Florida Panthers, will take on the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals Wednesday night. VIDEO: Charlotte Checkers ready for playoffs after first-round bye
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Abbotsford Canucks Eliminate Colorado Eagles, Advance To Western Conference Finals
After a dominant 5-0 game five win on Monday the Abbotsford Canucks have defeated the Colorado Eagles and advanced to the AHL's Western Western Conference Finals. Abbotsford will take on the Texas Stars in a best-of-seven series with the winner moving on to the Calder Cup Finals. Game one gets underway on Thursday May 29 in Abbotsford. Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs was phenomenal throughout the series allowing just nine goals on 143 shots over the five games, recording a shutout in game one and game five. He now has an 8-3 record, .936 SP, 1.73 GAA and four shutouts this postseason. Linus Karlsson and Phil Di Giuseppe each recorded two goals in game five, they were Di Giuseppe's first points of the series after he had six in the Canucks' first seven games of the playoffs. Karlsson continued his strong playoff showing with four goals and five points in five games against Colorado, he leads the team with seven goals and sits second with 10 points in 12 games. Abbotsford shuffled their forward lines often throughout the series with Arshdeep Bains remaining the only constant on the top line. Bains and Sammy Blais each recorded three assists in the series, Blais leads the team with 11 points in 12 games. After struggling to find the scoresheet early in the playoffs Jonathan Lekkerimaki recorded two points in game two and three, he will need to continue to produce to help the Canucks outscore the Stars. Abbotsford's defense core had a strong series anchored by Guillaume Brisebois, Cole McWard, and Jett Woo. The return of veteran Christian Wolanin appeared to help stabilize the group. The Canucks lead all remaining playoff teams with a 97% penalty kill success rate, allowing just one goal in 35 times shorthanded. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TEAM HISTORY, WE ARE HEADED TO THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS‼️It all starts Thursday, May 29th - secure your seats and watch your Abby Canucks take on the Texas Stars!GET TICKETS | — X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) May 26, 2025 After leading the league with 250 goals for in the regular season the Eagles struggled to put the puck in the net against the Canucks, scoring just nine goals in five games. In a historic campaign where he set the AHL record for most goals in a season by a defenseman with 31 and won the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL's Most Outstanding Defenseman Jacob MacDonald was held to just two assists in the series and finishes the playoffs with zero goals and four assists in nine games. The Eagles top line of Jayson Megna, Tye Felhaber, and Matthew Phillips each finish the playoffs with eight points in nine games. The trio each had two points in the series. After posting 41 assists and 49 points in 52 games in the regular season T.J. Tynan was held to just two assists in the series, his only points of the playoffs. An injury to defenseman Jack Ahcan in game two of Colorado's second round series against the San Jose Barracuda was a significant blow to the team and they were not able to make up his production and ice-time. Despite the loss goaltender Trent Miner had a strong series, posting a .910 SP and 2.29 GAA. He finishes the playoffs with a 5-4 record, .925 SP and 2.15 GAA. Check out The Hockey News' Vancouver Canucks team for more updates on Abbotsford. Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.
Boston Globe
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
After firing Dan Bylsma as coach, Kraken elevate Ron Francis, with Jason Botterill replacing him as GM
Francis had been in charge since not long after Seattle's ownership group was granted an NHL expansion franchise. He and Botterill are now tasked with finding a coach and repairing a roster that is lacking in elite talent. Advertisement 'I am proud of what we have started here in Seattle and look forward to continuing in my new role as President,' Francis said. 'I have worked closely with Jason for many years at both the NHL and international levels. He helped build three Stanley Cup-winning rosters in Pittsburgh and has been a key member of our management team since Day 1. He has demonstrated the ability to construct winning teams, and his experience, leadership, and vision will be invaluable as we continue towards a championship-caliber organization in Seattle.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up This is Botterill's second GM job in the league after he ran the Buffalo Sabres from 2017-20. 'We are focused on taking the next step as a franchise, and for us, next season starts now,' Botterill said. 'From roster decisions to player development, we will do everything we can to build a team that can compete for the playoffs every year and ultimately bring a Stanley Cup to Seattle.' Advertisement That did not happen under Bylsma. The Kraken this past season finished 35-41-6 for 76 points — 20 back of the second and final wild-card spot in the Western Conference — after 81 in 2023-24 for previous coach Dave Hakstol. Bylsma had been promoted from within after coaching the American Hockey League's Coachella Valley Firebirds to back-to-back Calder Cup Finals before losing to Hershey. He won the Stanley Cup as Pittsburgh's coach in 2009 and remained with the Penguins through 2014, winning the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in 2011. This was his third head-coaching job in the NHL after an ill-fated two-year stint with Buffalo from 2015-17. Bylsma is the third coach fired in as many days after Anaheim moved on from Greg Cronin and the New York Rangers dismissed Peter Laviolette.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Seattle Kraken splits with Dan Bylsma following disappointing NHL season
Dan Bylsma (via Getty Images) Veteran NHL head coach Dan Bylsma 's comeback to lead in the league was cut short as the Seattle Kraken formally announced his firing after only one season. The decision comes after a disappointing season where the Seattle Kraken could not meet expectations, finishing seventh in the Pacific Division and far from making the playoffs. Dan Bylsma's brief tenure with Seattle Kraken concludes after a single volatile season Kraken fire head coach Dan Bylsma after one season in charge The club's 76-point final total placed them 20 points adrift of the St. Louis Blues, who won the second Western Conference wild-card position. Just three teams had fewer points, and an early-season slump eventually became his demise. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dog licks arent kisses. Heres what your dog really means when it licks you. Cleverst Undo Dan Bylsma was brought aboard by general manager Ron Francis in front of the 2024–25 campaign, replacing Dave Hakstol, who piloted the Seattle Kraken in their first three NHL seasons. There were lofty expectations for DanBylsma, whose previous career résumé boasts a 2009 Stanley Cup championship victory with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Jack Adams Award in 2011. A season of the team's inconsistent play and failures to gel cost them increasing scrutiny. A bleak 2-8-1 slide in the middle stretch of winter inflicted a serious blow to the Kraken's playoff hopes. Even a respectable 9-8-2 finish following the trade deadline wasn't sufficient to spark their hopes. Ultimately, Seattle's second-ever playoff appearance never came to be, leaving Dan Bylsma's job under the microscope. Bylsma also brought with him assistant coaches Jessica Campbell and Bob Woods, both having prior experience with him, including during his tenure with the Coachella Valley Firebirds—Seattle's AHL affiliate. At his helm, the Firebirds appeared in consecutive Calder Cup Finals , paving the way for his return to the NHL. Dan Bylsma's NHL legacy couldn't lift Seattle Kraken Once touted as being among the brightest minds in professional hockey, Dan Bylsma has been unable to regain the success he previously experienced. His NHL coaching career started with so much promise in Pittsburgh, but since leaving the Buffalo Sabres (2015–2017), his head coaching opportunities have been scarce. The Kraken offered what many thought would be a rejuvenating platform, but the team's inaction in the 2021 expansion draft and inconsistency on the ice said otherwise. What's in store for the Seattle Kraken and Dan Bylsma? The Seattle Kraken is back at a fork in the road again. With the franchise beginning its fifth year, the pressure is mounting—and so is the sense of urgency to get something done. Regardless of whether Ron Francis is sticking around as general manager or not, identifying a new head coach who can stabilize the team is now the top priority. Also read: 'Have to go the longer route': First and only female NHL coach Jessica Campbell As for Dan Bylsma, the future remains uncertain. Though his name still holds value due to past glory, his recent stint in the NHL leaves people wondering if he'll be given another opportunity behind the bench. Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India , including match schedules , team squads , points table and IPL live score for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Don't miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap .
